Dispensing closures



DISPENSING CLOSURES Filed May 9. 1958 l @g- 2. /f-l' 3 5 '1N f 3f I* 36 ,un l p25 .all w 29 /l/ 2273 I' q //f ||I|l' Il frll j el" .l f ml. mulini lzl W w um 1w III HIH" IIIIHIIHIIII 29 i Ulli-w "ilf f5 'N im 7' M J l. T" Z. mw IN1/.ff Tl 77 z United States Patent() 2,917,210 DISPENSING CLOSURES ySidney Libri, Glencoe, ni.

Application vMay 9, 1958, Serial No. 734,300.

9 claims. (Cl. zzz- 512) This invention relates to a dispensing closure for a receptacle for fluent maten'al in which a translationally movable part cooperatees with a fixed part'securedV to the receptacle to provide a valve action to initiate or to interrupt ow.` In particular the present application is a continuation-impart of my prior application Serial No. 653,309, filed April 17, 1957.

In my said pending application there is disclosed a two part dispensing closure as aforesaid in which the movable part is maintained in slidable operative relation with the fixed part by means of a type of dovetail joint whereby, upon translational movement of thel movable part a fluid passage therethrough is placed into and out of register with a fluid passage through the fixed part for permitting and interrupting flow from .the receptacle.

In the device there disclosed, in which a resiliently de- Y formable plastic composition is utilized, leakage is some.- times encountered when highly volatile liquids are dispensed. Ithas been determined that the nature of the sliding fit issuch thatwhen suflicient play is permitted for easy'shifting of the movable part the fit is then such that volatile fluids, such as naphtha, 'tend to leak and that, when'the joint is made 4adequately `tight for such fluids, diiculty is experienced in manipulation.

In order to augment the field of application of such de vices, namely, to permit their use with fluids which vare v more: o'r less viscous as well as those of volatile character,

.ne present invention has for its principal object the provision of certain improved features of construction lending such versatility. v

Another object is to provide a two-part dispensing closure of the type disclosed in my said application which lends Vitself to' more rapid assembly.

.A further object is to provide a two-part dispensing closure as aforesaid wherein the likelihood of disengagement of the two parts by careless manipulation is substantially entirely eliminated.

Other objects will become apparent from the ensuing description which, taken with the accompanying drawing discloses a preferred form in which the invention 'may he embodied in practice.

In this drawing: l

Figure lis a top plan view of a dispensing closure in accordance with the invention; y

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof; v

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on the line 3-43 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 isa cross section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is an end elevationof the device of Fig. 1 as seen from the right to illustrate the mo'de `of assembly of lthe two parts. 4

Broadly regarded the invention comprises a two part dispensing closure in which both parts comprise resiliently deformable material, eg., polyethylene. One of the parts, herein sometimes referred to as the fixed part, is provided with a portion for attachment to a receptacle holding a fluent substance. The mode of attachment ICC v 2 vforms no part of theinvention per se. The fixed partis providedv ywith a Yraised portion having the general shape of the -male' element of a dovetail joint. The movable part is provided with a complementary female element so arranged that after the elements are initially engaged the movable part may be shifted translationally in a predetermined stroke. The length of the strokecorresponds to on and off positions of they device, since the result thereof is to place passages in the fixed and movable parts in and out of .register to permit orto interrupt flow from the receptacle. Means are provided fo'r limiting the translational stroke in each direction. Since the male and female elements of the dovetail `are initially engaged by forcing them together against the resiliency of the material-and, inasmuch 'as the ultimate consumer is likely to reverse the process inadvertently the present invention includes Imeans for militating against such occurrence. To this end the movable part is provided with a pair of opposed faces parallel to the direction of movement and which faces are flanked by fixed abutments cooperative with ribs on the said faces of the movable part to restrain 'these faces against lateral deformation of a degree which would allow unintentional separation of the dovetail joint. Moreover the presence of the abutments and ribs and their relationship with the movable part effects a tighter fluid seal between the two parts.

Thus, adverting to the drawing, I have illustrated a two Vpart dispensing closure comprising a fixed part 10 and .a movable part 11 rshiftable thereon between on and off positions. To secure the closure on the receptacle various, well-known expedients are available. For example, a necked bottle or can'would receive la skirt 12 thereover while the inner margin of the neck opening receives a plug 14 and a bead at the `outer extremity of the neck engages a bead 13 interiorly of the skirt 12. In the case of a metal receptacle it is sometimes preferredto fit the closure into a circular aperture punched through a wall of the receptacle, for which purpose other expedients are available of. The invention closure may be employed with squeeze type bottles having a neck of the resilient material by forming the skirt 12 as a part ofthe neck-in which case the plug 14 is omitted.

The skirt 12 depends from a disc 16A the upper, principal surface whereof may be identified as l17. This latter is centrally depressed to define Ya sub-surface v18 Within which the movable part 11 is arranged to slide, in which case the sides of the recess thus `formed may con-tribute to retention of the movable part.

From the surface y17 or the sub-surface 18, as the case may be,` there extends a male dovetail element`21 which includes a pair of opposed ways 23 engaged with a comp lementary pair o-f grooves 25 of the movable part 11.I These latter are formed in the lateral walls 2-'7 of an inverted box-shaped base 29 of the movable part 11. From the foregoing it will be clear that the movable part 11 may be shifted relative to the fixed part 10 between positions llimited by the end wall surfaces 32 and 33 olf the base 29, as shown by full and broken lines in Fig. 3. A pad 35 may be formed at one end of the Vbase 29 and an embossed arrow 36 on the upper face thereof to convey to the user in unmistakable fashion that pressure on the pad in the indicated direction will open the valve for pouring.

To provide fluid communication between the interior of the Areceptacle and the upper surface 41 of the dovetail element 21 there is a passage 43; and between the surface 45 of the base 29v and a pouring spout 46 there is a bore 47. Accordingly, when the device is as shown by full lines inFig. 3 the contents ofthe receptacle may bedispensed and, when the movable part is shifted vto the broken line position there shown, pouring is interrupted. the on and off positions of the valve which positions, when selected, are maintained by friction of the parts. To provide a reliable seal between the parts the uppermost surface 41 of the fixed part -is made narrower than the distance between the extreme outer surfaces of the dovetail elements 23 whereby a Zone of ,high unit pressure is caused to exist. If desired, such zone may be realized by an annular padcircumscribing the aperture 43.

Inasmuch as the lateral Walls 27 of the ease 29 are somewhat elongated and resilient means are provided to preclude dislodgment of the movable part 11 from operative relationship with the fixed part 10 by carelessness on the part of the user, -as for example, application of shifting force transversely to the proper direction. To this end there is provided a pair of abutments 61 arranged to present pressure pads 62 of restricted area to the walls 27 through ribs 64 at the lower edge thereof. The transverse vspacing (Fig. between the pads 62 is made less than the corresponding dimension between the outer faces of the ribs. Thus the pinching effect of the pads 62 is applied in a concentrated manner, namely, adjacent the lowest part of the base 29. The net result is to cause the female element of the dovetail to engage the male element with substantially implemented action than would be the case if the flexible walls 27 alone were depended upon. This laterally-applied force is translated via the inclined surfaces of the dovetail sliding one upon the other to provide not only a tighter seal between the sliding faces 41 and 45, butto resist any inadvertent dislodgement of the movable part 11. Location of the ribs 64 at the lower edge of the walls 2'7 enables maximum leverage in applying the force of the abutments 61. Moreover, and as will be clear from Fig. l, the abutments are centered about the passage 43 in order that the pressure exerted thereby will be applied principally at the point of register of that passage with the passage 47.

In order that the parts may be initially assembled with minimum interference between the abutments 61 and ribs 64 the upper corners of the abutments are charnfered or rounded off as at 67. For assembly the parts are positioned as in Fig. 5 and, while the fixed part rests on a solid support, pressure is applied to the skirt 12 in the direction of the arrows X-X whereby to arch the disc 16. This action in turn forces the abutments 61 to take up a divergent relationship permitting comparatively unobstructed insertion of the base 29 therebetween, i.e. without danger of tearing the ribs 64. When the parts are thus completely assembled the pressure at X-X is released.

By applying lateral pressure through pairs of narrow .pads 62 at each side as compared with the employment of a single extended pressure-applying surface there is a tendency, while the closure is in off position, for the padsto indent, by a cold forming process, the respective ribs, which are somewhat narrower transversely than the width of the pads. Consequently when the device is operated to on position the pads 62 are cammed, so to speak, out of the indentations and increased pressure thereby applied. This additional advantage has been found particularly useful as closures of the character herein considered have, in the absence of the invention improvements, exhibited a tendency to leak volatile fluids more in the on than in the off position of the parts. If desired the indentations may be introduced into the ribs by formally including the necessary shape in the mold cavities. It will be noted that the interengagement of the abutments 61 with the indentations also provides a detent action assisting in reliable maintenance of the o position.

While I have shown a certain embodiment of my invention, it will be understood, of course, that I do not wish to be limited thereto since many modifications may These two positions therefore correspond to be made and I therefore contemplate by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A two part dispensing closure of resiliently deformable material for a receptacle comprising a fixed part including means for attaching the same to the receptacle, said fixed part having an upper surface, a male dovetail element outstanding from said surface, a movable part adapted for translational movement with respect to said fixed part between on and off positions, said movable part having wall portions extending parallel to the direction of saidmovement defining on the interior thereof a female dovetail element complementary to said male element for sliding engagement thereover, said elements presenting respective slidably contacting faces which are c0ntiguous -in all positions of the movable part to provide a fluid seal between said elements, said fixed part having a passage for fluid communication between the exterior thereof and the said male element sliding face, said movable part having a passage for fluid communication be.- tween the said female element sliding face and the exterior of said movable part, said passages being placed in or lout of register in the respective said on and off positions, a pair of opposed abutments outstanding from said fixed part upper surface flanking said wall portions, said wall portions each having a rib extending in the direction of movement adapted to bear on respective ones of the abutments and the ribs being positioned adjacent said fixed part upper surface whereby said wall portions are subjected to laterally-applied, opposed, compressive forces ina restricted zone which is translated by the abutted sloping faces of the dovetail elements into a component of compressive force normal to the laterally-applied forces to supplement the fluid seal between the two parts.

2. The combination in accordance with claim l .further characterized in that said wall portions are joined at their ends by transverse wall portions to define a box-like enclosure surrounding the male dovetail element, said transverse wall portions constituting stops cooperative with said male element for fixing the limits of the stro-ke of the movable part.

3. A two part dispensing closure of resiliently deformable material for a receptacle comprising: a fixed part including means for attaching the same to the lreceptaclagV said fixed part having an upper surface, a male dovetail element outstanding from said surface, said movable part having a base constituted as an inverted box open on a side adjacent said surface, two opposed wallsv of the base parallel to said male element being provided with female dovetail elements engaged with said male dovetail element for relative sliding displacement of said movable and fixed parts between on and off positions, each of said dovetail elements presenting respective slidably contacting faces which are contiguous in all positions of the movable part to provide a fluid seal between said elements, said fixed part having a passage providing fluid communication between the exterior thereof and said contacting face of said male dovetail element, said movable part having a passage providing fluid communication between the said contacting face of said female dovetail element and the exterior of said movable part, said passages being placed in and out of register in the .respective on and oil positions, a pair of opposed abutments outstanding from said fixed part surface, said walls having ribs positioned on the exterior thereof extending in the direction of movement, said ribs contacting said abutments with a snug frictional fit whereby said dovetail elements are cause-:l to engage tightly to draw said contiguous faces into contact to provide a fluid-tight seal above said passages at their plane o f register.

4. The combination in accordance with claim 3 in which each said abutment comprises an abutting face extending perpendicularly to said upper surface, said face being outwardly curved to reduce sliding friction between the movable part and abutments.

5. A two-part dispensing closure of resiliently deformable material for a uid-containing receptacle comprising: a xed part having a pair of opposed, male, guide elements; a movable part having a pair of opposed, relatively deformable longitudinally-disposed side walls, each said Wall having an interior female guide element complementary to one of said male guide elements for longitudinal sliding engagement between said parts; each part having respective faces which are contiguous in all operative positions of the parts to provide a uid seal between said parts; said xed part having a passage providing fluid communication between the exterior thereof and its said face, said movable part having a passage providing fluid communication between its said face and an exposed surface thereof for pouring; said passages being adapted to be brought into and out of register at said faces upon sl'idably shifting said movable part between on and off positions of the closure; abutment means on said xed part disposed at each side of said movable part adapted to apply opposite, laterally directed, bearing forces on said side walls having a dimension measured longitudinally of said Walls substantially less than the length of said Walls to provide a concentrated zone of application of bearing force thereto.

6. The combination in accordance with claim 5 in which the respective bearing regions of said abutment means are spaced laterally from and are located substantially symmetrical with respect to said fixed part passage.

7. The combination in accordance with claim 5 further characterized in that said movable part is provided with a nozzle, the bore of which is a continuation of said movable part passage and said nozzle is a handle for manipulation of said movable part.

8. The combination in accordance with claim 5 in which the complementary portions of said male and female parts include surfaces which are inclined downwardly and inwardly whereby the laterally-applied bearing forces are translated by said inclined surfaces into a. component of force normally to the Huid-sealing faces.

9. The combination in accordance with claim 8 wherein one of said sealing faces is o-f lesser areal extent than vthe other to provide a concentration of said normal force component over a restricted area surrounding said passages.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,018,552 Cooke Feb. 27, 1912 1,578,418 Gannon Mar. 30, 1926 2,496,439 Bumber Feb. 7, 1950 2,624,494 Gerin Ian. 6, 1953 2,823,837 Heinle Feb. 18, 1958 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No., 2,917,210 December l5, 1959 Sidney M.. Lbit It is hereby certified that errory appears in the printed specification of' the above numbered patent requiring correct-ion land that the said Letters Patent should read' as corrected below.

Column A, line '71, forY "ebow/*6 read about MY.

Signed and sealed this 24th day of May 1960.,

(SEAL) Attest:

KAEL AXLTNE ROBERT C. WATSON Attesting Officer v Commissioner of Patents 

